Non-tamperable container



June 8, 1965 5. J. ZlMMET 3,187,926

NON-TAMPERABLE CONTAINER Filed Nov. 29. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

Ilwgwm C- 200157, kw) 1 m Arrow/50s.

June 8, 1965 5. J. ZlMMET 3,187,926

NON-TAMPERABLE CONTAINER Filed Nov. 29, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 firraeuevs.

318l7926 Patented June 8, 1965 United States Patent Office 3,187,926- NON-TAMPERABLE CONTAINER Sidney J. Zimmet, 2312 Hill Lane, Redondo Beach, Calif. Filed Nov. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 157,043 Claims. (Cl. 220-41).

This invention relates generally to non-tamperable containers, and more particularly to such a container including a box and a lid, the lid having latch mechanisms thereon. a

This application is a continuation in part application of Serial No. 50,925 filed August 22, 1960 by Sidney J. Zimmet for NonTamperable Container.

For many household purposes, it is desirable to have a container which children cannot open, but which nevertheless can be opened by an adult through the concurrent use of both hands. One such-household purpose, for example, is to provide a locked container in which drugs and medicines may be kept. Such a drug container may, if desired, be secured in a permanent position within a medicine cabinet.

. Prior art containers having locking means for retaining the cover inplace have been complicated and expensive to manufacture, and have not provided a lockwhich 'i's designed to prevent childrens access'to thecontents of the container.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container which cannot be opened by children, but which maybe readily manipulated by adults.

It isanother object of the present invention to provide a non-tamperable container which may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

-In is another object of the present invention to provide a non-tamperable container which. is Particularly adapted for use as a medicine box. A

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention, both as to its organization and operation, will become apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are presented by way of example only Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. -1 through 3, there is illustrated one embodiment of a non-tamperable container in accordance with the present invention. As is illustrated generally therein, the box is substantially rectangular in shape having one end wall whose upper corners are of lesser height than the side walls. Retaining notches for the latch mechanisms are formed on the inner surfaces of the side walls. As is noted, the upper edges of the side walls are flanged outwardly to provide a receiving means for the lid to be described below. One of the retaining notches is formed on one side wall near the upper edge thereof, and two retaining notches are formed in longitudinally spaced positions on the other side at its upper edge. Additional notches may be used is desired. It is preferred, but not H indispensable, that one retaining notchon each side of and are not intended at a lirnination upon the scope of V the claims appended to here, and in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the box and lid of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the box as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the box and lid asillustrated in FIG. 1; 1

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the box of FIGS. 1, 2;and 3 mounted in amedicine cabinet;

FIG. 6 is a perspective 'view of an alternative preferred embodlment of a box and 11d m acgordance with l i wall 14 is similarly rounded at 27, so as to facilitate the present invention; 3

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of the box and lid of a FIG. 6 with the lid partially removed from the box and with the box partially in cross-section; 1 i

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top elevational w'ew, partly in cross-section, of the box and lid of FIG. 6 with the lid in place;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the box and lid taken about the lines 99 shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a top elevational view, partly in cross-section, of another embodiment of a box and lid in accordance with the present invention. 6

A container in accordance with the present invention includes a box having side walls defining members for slidably receiving a lid. The lid carries a latch on at least one side edge thereof. The: latch engages a retaining means formed in the receiving members for retaining the lid in place, and the latch includes retractable resilient means to normally cause the latch to be urged toward the retainthe box should be at the same longitudinal position as the retaining notch on the other side. i

In accordance with the present embodiment of this invention, the lid is integrallyformed and has downwardly depending edge walls which slidingly engage the outer surfaces of the sidewalls of the box which form the receiving means above referred to. Portions of the edge walls are partially cut out and bent inwardly, so as to extend inside'the box when the lid is fitted on the box. The position of these cut-out portions is such that each engages selectively a respective one of the retaining notches in the box.

Further in accordance with the present embodiment of this invention, securing means are also provided so that in removing or replacing the lid upon the box the lid slides longintudinally relative to the box. Thus, wl 1en the lid is removed from the box, the partially cut-out lid portions pass over the upper corners of one end wall of the box Retaining notches 22, 23 are similarly formed in" the side wall 14. Notches22, 23 are longitudinally separated on the, side wall 14, and notches 21, 23 are located at the same longitudinal position on the box.

Additional features of the box construction include outwardly extending flanges 13a, 14a, formed on the upper edges of side walls 13, 14, respectively. The sidewall 13 is rounded at 26, adjacent end wall 11, and the side insertion of removal ofthe lid. I

Lid B includes a flat top portion 30 and downwardly depending end portions 31, 32. Downwardly depending edge walls 33, 34 have a stepped configuration. Thus the edge wall 33 has a portion 33awhich extend downwardly in adjoinment with the end portions 31, 32. Edge wall 33 also includes a portion 33b which extends horizontally outwardly from the portion 33a, and a portion 33c which extends downwardly from the extremity of the portion 33b. inwardly extending flanges 35, 36 are formed on the lower edges of respective edge walls of the lid.

Edge wall 33 of the lid has a cutout portion 41, while edge wall 34 has cutout portions 42, 43. The cutout portions 41, 42, 43 are adapted to engage retaining notches 21, 22, 23, respectively.

Each cutout portion is formed by cutting a tab from the horizontal portion 33b or 34b, of the associated edge wall. The cutting out of the tabis also extending upwardly into the downwardly depending wall portion 33a or 34a.

The tabs or cutout portions of the lid are then bent inbox. I

3 wardly to serve as latch mechanisms. It is preferred to use resilient plastic material'for fabricating the lid, such that the tabs after being retracted tend to restore them selves toward their original positions, and therefore normally automatically are urged forward into the respective retaining notches. It is convenient to press the tabs 41 and 43 together with the thumb and a finger of one hand while concurrently pressing tab 42 with a finger of the other hand to thus retract the tabs from engagement with the notches when it is desired to remove the lid from the FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified form of the invention adapted for permanent mounting in a household medicine" chest. A medicine cabinet C has horizontal shelves '51, 52 and a hinged door 53. A pair of runners of box A and a similar pair of runners or blocks 57, 53 are attached to side wall 13. The runners are mounted in 'or mounting blocks 55, 56 are attached to side wall 14 a transverse direction on the respective side walls, per- 1 pendicular to the box bottom 10 and lid top 30.

The width or thickness of therunners measured in a direction parallel to end walls 11, 12, is greater than the distance by which the lid edges 33c, 34c overhang the side walls of the box. As shown in FIG. 4 the box is mounted with the runners 55, 56 engaging the under surface of upper shelf 51 while the ,runners 57, 58 engage the upper surface of lower shelf 52. The runners are permanently fastened to the shelves by adhesives orother suitable means. The upper edge 34c and lower edge 33c of the lid therefore maintain'a slight clearance from shelves 51 and 52, respectively, and the lid is adapted to be removed by [sliding it horizontally to the right, as indicated by an arrow 60.

The runners 55-58 may be formed separately and then attached to box A, but his preferred to form them of plastic material as an integral part of the box.

Referring now more particularly toFlGS. 6 through 9,

there is illustrated a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. As is shown therein, the nontamperable container illustrated generally at 60 includes a box 61 which has a lid 62in slidable engagement therewith. The box 61 includes sidewalls 63, 64- and end walls 65, 66 and abottom 67. Along the upper edge portion of each of the side walls 63, d4 there is formed a U-sh-aped flange member 63, 69, respectively. The U-shaped flange members may be viewed as extensions of side walls 63 l and 64 which are turned outwardly, upwardly and then inwardly in order to provide a pair of interior longitudinally disposed grooves or channels within which the lid d2 slides. Along the inner surface of the .U-shaped flange 68 there is provided a pair of openings in the form of'detents thus causing the lid 62 "89, 90, 91, and 92. The lid 62 is preferably formed of resiliently deformable plastic material which is relatively rigid and which causes each of the tabs 05 through 03 to normally be urged outwardly to the position as illustrated by tabs 86 and 88 of FIG..7. Each of the tabs is adapted to selectively engage a respective one of the detents 70 through 73. For example, when the lid is in its closed position as illustrated in FIG. 6, each of the latches 89 through 92 respectively engages the detents 70 through 73 to belocked in place upon the box 61. 4

This is more clearlyv illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein the latch 89 is shown inserted into detent 70 which is formed along the inner edge surface of the U-shaped flange member 68.

In operation, the lid is removed from the box 61 by pressing inwardly upon each of the longitudinally spaced tabs 85 through '88 simultaneously and moving the lid either to the left or to the right as viewed in FIG. 6. As is clearly shown in FIGS. '7 and 9, a stop member 93 through 96 cooper-ates with a'protrusion formed upon the inner surface-of the tabs 85 throughfid, respectively, to thereby prevent the tabs from being displaced so far inwardly as to'destroy the resiliency of the material or to otherwise permanently deform the tabs.

Openings 97 and 98 as shown in FIG. 7 are provided so that the non-tamperable container 60 may be mounted upon a wall within a medicine chest or similar area.

Referring now more parti-cuiarlyto FIG. 10, there is illustrated anotherembodiment in accordance with the present invention. As is therein shown, a container includes a box 101 having a lid 1h2slidably engaging the side edges of the box 103 and, 104, each of which defines a recess or groove for that purpose. Along the. inner edge of the inner surface of the side 10 1 there is provided retaining means such as a pair of openings or detents 105 and 106.- I On the opposite side wall 103 there is provided along the inner surface thereof a 'detent 107 which is oppositely disposed from detent'105. Carried by the lid 102 .are'three generally U-shaped resiliently deformable latch members 108, 109, and 1:10. Protruding through the lid 102- are latch actuation members or handles 111 and 112, the latch actuating member which operates in conjunctionwith the U-sh-aped latch member 108 not being I fingers 115, 116, and 1217 respectively. The latch actua- 70, 72 while along the inner surface of the U-shaped flange member 69 there is provided a pair of such detents 71, 73. Disposed centrally of each of the U-shaped flange members 68, 69 there is provided a reinforcing or stiffening rib 74, 75 respectively.

The lid 62 is formed of a relatively flat top 76 having downwardly depending edge members '77 and 78. Formed integrally with the top and downwardly depending 'sideedges of the lid are reinforcing ribs 79 and 8h. The terminal portion of the side edges 77 and 78 of the lid 62 are turned outwardly to form flanges 8'1, slrespectively. The end areas of the flanges 81 and d2 are tapered inwardly as shown respectively at 83 and 84 to permit easy' insertion of the lid into the grooves provided by the U- shaped flange members 68 and 69. Taps 85, 86, 87, and 88 are provided along the side edges of the lid 62 to provide a plurality of latch members carried by the lid. The tabs '85 and 86 are longitudinally spaced along the side edge 77 and flange 8 1 while the tabs87 and 80 are provided along the opposite side edge 78 and flange 82. The tabs 85 through 88 are provided by cutting through the flanges 81, 82. and part way through the side edges 77 and 78 of the lid 62. Each of the tabs is provided atits centerportion with an outwardly extending latch finger 'tion members .111 and 112 are movable Within openings 113 and114, respectively in such a manner as to cause the legs of the generally U-sh-apedmemberto be brought closer together and thereby to remove the latches 115, 116,

and 117 from engagement with the detents 105, 106, and 107, respectively. One legof the generally U-shaped latch members 108, 109, and 110 is anchored as at 1 18, 119, and 1-20, respectively. A stop member is provided for each of the latch members as is illustrated at 121, 1-22, .and 123. In this manner, thereis provided a resilient retractable latch mechanism'which is normally urging a latch finger forwardly and into engagement with a retaining means such as the detents through 107; Upon depression,

the latch fingers are withdrawn from the :detents and the lid maybe removed from the box to provide access thereto.

There has thus been dis-closed the details of several embodiments of a non-tamperable cont-ainerin accordance with the present invention each of which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and cannot be opened by a child but at the same time may be opened by manipulation of an adult. V

-What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising: a 'box having upstanding sidewalls each defining a longitudinally extending groove on the inner surface thereof near the upper edge, each of said grooves defining at least one opening therein; a lid formed of relatively rigid material and having longitudinally extending side walls, said lid being formed to slidingly engage said grooves; latch means carried on said side walls of said lid and having a latch fin-ger for engaging said openings, said latch means including a resilient means for normally urging said latch finger toward said opening.

2. A container as defined in claim 1 in which saidside edges of said lid terminate in outwardly extending flanges which are received in said grooves and said latch member-s are formed by partially cutting out portions of said flanges and said side edges of said lid.

3. A container as defined in claim 2 in which said lid includes stop means aifixed to the inner surface of the top of said lid and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent said lat-ch members thereby to limit the inward movement of said latch members.

4. A container comprising: a box having upstanding side walls each defining a longitudinally extending groove on the inner surface thereof near the upper edge, each of said grooves defining a pair of equally spaced openings therein; a lid of relatively rigid material having a top, downwardly depending side walls and outwardly extending longitudinal flanges; two latches formed integrally with each of said flanges and spaced equally thereon to coincide with said openings when said lid is in a closed position on said :box, said latches being formed by partially cutting out a portion of said flanges and the longitudinally disposed side walls of said lid, said lid being formed of resiliently deformable material thereby to cause said latches to normally be urged toward engagement with said openings.

5. A container including a box having longitudinal interior grooves in its side walls; a lid formed of relatively rigid sheet material and having longitudinal side flanges adapted to slide in said grooves, the width or said grooves being sufficient to accommodate said side flanges; and a latch carried on the surface of one of said side flanges and having a latch finger extending from said one side flange in a direction substantially parallel to the main lid portion for selectively engaging retaining means in the corresponding sidewall groove of the box.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 476,353 6/92 Allred 22041 1,761,650 6/30 Beardsley. 2,562,248 7/51 Weed 220-41 2,906,579 9/59 'Magnenat 22060 2,936,189 5/60 Pearson 206-15 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING: A BOX HAVING UPSTANDING SIDEWALLS EACH DEFINING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVE ON THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF NEAR THE UPPER EDGE, EACH OF SAID GROOVES DEFINING AT LEAST ONE OPENING THEREIN; A LID FORMED OF RELATIVELY RIGID MATERIAL AND HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SIDE WALLS, SAID LID BEING FORMED TO SLIDINGLY ENGAGE SAID GROOVES; LATCH MEANS CARRIED ON SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID LID AND HAVING A LATCH FINGER FOR ENGAGING SAID OPENINGS, SAID LATCH MEANS INCLUDING A RESILIENT MEANS FOR NORMALLY URGING SAID LATCH FINGER TOWARD SAID OPENING. 